About Us
Department of Political Science
Your success is our primary goal.
You have an idea of what you want your future to look like, and we’re here to help you make that happen. Regardless of which area of political science you’re interested in, we are dedicated to giving you the education you need for success. You’ll learn from award-winning faculty and have access to over $25,000 in exclusive scholarships as you set out to build the future you want.
Political Science Facts
Get to know what political science is all about.
The Department of Political Science is an interdisciplinary home to multiple degrees that deal with fundamental institutional, social, and cultural issues. Get to know a little more about us.
Political science is a social science that explores the theory and practice of government, politics, ideals, ideologies, and institutions. It uses a range of quantitative and qualitative methods to research human political behavior and interactions. Political science can be applied on the local, state, national, and international levels, and its major subfields include political theory, comparative politics, international relations, American government/politics, and public policy.
Campaigns, presidencies, and political parties are perhaps the most recognizable parts of our field, but terrorism, humanitarian intervention, diplomacy, climate change, and civil rights—among other topics—are prominent as well. If something can be tied to policies, there’s probably a political scientist studying it.
By majoring in political science, our students analyze world leaders.
As a political science student, you’ll develop strong reading, writing, and analytical skills. You’ll learn how to analyze crises critically, view issues through an objective lens, conduct primary and secondary research, and propose solutions to convoluted problems.
These skills are invaluable in any career, and political science students may be interested in careers as lawyers, political party officials, political campaign officers, intelligence officers, foreign service officers, legislative assistants, public relations specialists, and consultants for firms, nonprofits, or governmental organizations. Students should keep in mind that many graduate schools and law schools appreciate applicants who have a grounding in economics as well as policy.
Three recent graduates received Fulbright Awards to Colombia, Romania, and Luxembourg, while another graduate was selected as a junior fellow for the highly selective Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC.
We count judges, law school deans, vice presidents of investment firms, CPAs, Peace Corps officers, biomedical sales managers, distillery owners, and Washington think-tank researchers among our graduates.
Opportunities
This is where you’ll experience so much more than classroom lectures.
Take advantage of all the opportunities the Department of Political Science provides to help you create the college experience you want.
